A certain amount of giddiness filled Muskegon as Melching Inc. presented plans for the implosion of three major structures on the former Sappi paper mill property.

Muskegon city commissioners reviewed plans for the Oct. 27 implosion of the 10-story power plant and the two smokestacks earlier this week at an orderly, sparsely attended meeting. The city has since prepared a cautious checklist of requirements that must be met before the implosion can occur.

The positive reaction and anticipation are a far cry from the response to the initial proposal for work at the site. At that time Doug Melching, owner of Melching Inc. -- and the city -- faced sharp criticism from civic groups Save Our Shoreline and Occupy Muskegon as well as residents of the Lakeside and Beachwood-Bluffton neighborhoods that surround the former paper plant property.

Concerns were raised by these groups about possible pollution from more than a century of paper production and the environmental effects of the demolition of 1 million square feet of potentially contaminated buildings. A ballot issue concerning zoning further complicated things.

Work has been underway at the site for more than a year, opening views to Muskegon Lake that haven’t been seen in generations. Opponents seem to have disappeared and tests for pollution have found less than expected, although the investigation continues.

All this paves the way for a very big step for the community – transitioning the industrial site into something different. While it is expected to take several more years to complete cleanup on the site, a possible sale of the property is being negotiated.

Although the property will be privately owned, Muskegon should use the time it takes to finish clearing the property to consider how the redevelopment of the former Sappi property can be leveraged to make a difference for our community. It will be the first of several parcels around the lake and across the community that will provide this opportunity.

We're talking about small things like the plan to expand sewer in Fruitport that not only benefits a new business but the school district as well. Or moving the Farmers Market to open parcels downtown in an attempt to encourage more development.

We're talking about bigger things, too. Redevelopment of the former Sappi parcel with nearly 1 mile of shoreline on the southwest side of Muskegon Lake could further efforts to develop a blue-green economy here. The new blue-green businesses could combine our natural resources and the knowledge we have gained from rehabilitating and protecting those resources into jobs that require a well-trained and well-compensated workforce.

It's possible a network of firms could sprout up like the auto plants and their suppliers did a century ago.

The paper mill property also could help grow our tourism sector, or the technology sector.